Amid criticism, Meta reins in new AI tool that automatically accessed public Instagram images

Meta has removed a feature of its Muse Image AI tool that automatically used public Instagram photos as references, following backlash over privacy and consent. Meta did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The tool had drawn criticism from privacy advocates and users who objected to their images being used without explicit permission.

Muse Image AI is a Meta product that generates images based on text prompts. The now-removed feature allowed the AI to draw from publicly available Instagram photos as visual references. Meta framed the removal as a response to user feedback, though the company did not provide specific details on how the feature initially operated or why it was implemented without a consent mechanism.

The incident highlights ongoing tensions between AI developers and data privacy standards. Public Instagram photos are considered publicly accessible under the platform's terms of service, but many users argue that accessibility does not imply consent for AI training or reference use. No federal US privacy law currently governs such practices, leaving companies to self-regulate. The episode is the latest in a series of privacy-related controversies involving large tech firms' AI tools.